Chapter 10

A valynn entered her bedchamber to bustling activity. On the left side, Nia fidgeted with a row of floor-length gowns hanging from fixed golden hooks. On the right, three petite maidservants tinkered with crystal vials and porcelain jars on the mahogany vanity. They were dressed in all-white with flowers and leaves in their short-cropped brown hair.

"My lady." Nia scurried over. "Time for you to get ready for tonight's gala. Where have you been?"

After the training circle, she'd wandered the gardens for a bit, clearing her mind and thinking. Mostly, about Mateo. "I was getting myself ready for the hunt."

Nia pulled Avalynn into the marble washroom. "Well, now is the time to get the rest of you ready. You must look your best tonight." She handed Avalynn a soft white towel. "Hurry with your bath. The other maidservants and I will prepare your things."

One step inside the washroom and the aroma of fresh flowers filled Avalynn's face like a breath of fresh air on the first day of spring, but magnified. She spied the source right away. A tub filled with lapping clear water covered in curling red and pink rose petals with sprigs of white jasmine scattered throughout. Although she had not attended a gala lately, this was too much. Lily, the little romantic, must have gotten to Nia.

She set her fluffy towel aside, undressed, and slipped into the tub. She submerged herself fully in the warm water. Tingling shivers raced throughout her tired system. She held her breath and stayed there, feeling energized with each ripple against her skin.

She opened her eyes underwater. Light danced and shimmered through the water's surface, blurring the red and pink hues so she could barely make out her family crest on the ceiling. The mural of mountain peaks, trees, and the gold-painted S resembled a messy stain.

She broke the surface with a sputter, then flicked the petals from atop her head. Eyeing the mural now, every painted brush stroke and scenic element looked perfect, in true House Stromm fashion.

But what to do about Mateo? She brought her nose closer to the roses. Smelling ‘romantic' like Lily suggested earlier could benefit her. She plucked the oils from the tub's edge and began washing. Perhaps the Sublander would be enticed by her scent and fall for her fake alliance, especially since their unscheduled rendezvous in the forest left them nearly ending each other. She had a lot of work to do in order to earn his trust.

Rinsing the oils, her head dipped underwater. She ran her fingers through her long hair and focused on the blurred crest again. Maybe a gown with a plunging neckline would help the Sublander along. That should do it. He would fall under her spell. She would own the Sublander's heart as well as his head. The plan was perfect .

She hurried out of the tub, dried off, and pulled on her robe. With no time to waste, she entered her bedchamber to find Nia still fidgeting with the gowns. "Ah, there you are, looking fresh and smelling like the loveliest garden."

"Thanks to you and your petals." Avalynn raised a teasing brow. "How many rose bushes were violated for my pleasure?" It must've been a hundred or more.

Nia smirked. "Just enough." She held up one of the gowns. It hit the floor in a dazzling tuft of green with half sleeves and a scoop neckline. "How do you like this one?"

"Pretty color, but I would like to see the others." The neckline was all wrong. It did not plunge, and she needed that plunge for Mateo.

Nia placed the green gown back on the hook. "What about this?" She showed her a deep gold sheath with a high neckline.

Avalynn shook her head. Her maidservant went in the wrong direction. She would need to be more specific. "I was hoping for something more…" She cleared her throat and circled her hands in front of her bosom. "Provocative?"

The younger maidservants giggled and clanked the vials that nearly spilled from their hands. Nia's mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. "Oh! Well, if that is your desire, then I know just the one." With a twinkle in her eye, Nia held up a deep purple strapless gown. Lace with crystal accents adorned the plunging bodice, then cascaded down the voluminous skirt that sparkled like a regal sky at sunset. "Like this one, my lady?"

With a swallow, Avalynn nodded. The front plunged so deep she thought her parts would fall out. "Yes, like that." But then she glanced down at her figure, second-guessing her decision. Flat chest. Few curves. Would she even look good in that? "Um…" A nervous chuckle escaped he r lips. "Maybe that is not enough top-half material for me."

"Nonsense." Nia hung the dress. "You will shine like never before, and so will"—she moved her hands in front of her chest like Avalynn had—"these."

This time, all of the maids burst out laughing, even Avalynn. Nia took her hand and led her to the vanity. "Let the maids apply your paints and fix your hair. The dress will come last."

With a smile she nodded. "I am in your trust." She knew they would work their hardest to make sure she looked perfect.

The dainty maidservants got busy. Using the pads of their delicate fingers, they applied hues of bronze and rose to her cheeks, blending the shades together as they accentuated her high cheekbones. When they finished, they moved to her eyes, coloring the lids with deep purples and browns. Next, they lengthened her lashes with a thick black pigment. Lastly, they painted her lips with a soft pink gloss that smelled like the sweetest nectar.

With her face the way they wanted, they moved to her thick dark hair. Brushing and braiding, they swept Avalynn's locks up in the front, allowing delicate wisps to frame her face. The rest hung down the back in waves. With everything perfectly smooth and shiny, the team stepped away.

Placing her hands on Avalynn's shoulders, Nia stopped her before she could turn to look. "Not yet. Your dress first."

Nia and the maidservants set the frock on the ground. Avalynn stepped into place. Pulling it up, they fastened the crystal studs along the back. When finished, they moved aside.

Nia beamed with pride. "You may look now."

When Avalynn saw her reflection in the mirror, she blinked. She had been to many galas, balls, and other royal events, primped from head to toe. But today's session left her speechless. Her rough edges were polished, her features highlighted in all the right places. The colors on her cheeks and eyelids were rich and elegant. Her hair belonged on the head of a goddess. Her fingers rolled lightly down her cleavage, marveling at what she did not even realize she had. "You all have outdone yourselves."

Nia took the finishing piece from the vanity—a platinum tiara with crystals, pearls, and gold-dipped leaves. She nestled it in Avalynn's thick dark hair and stepped back. "There she is." Nia and the others bowed. "Our queen."

Down the corridor she went, her insides rattling like a clanging bell. As she neared the grand staircase, her ears filled with the violins' soft strumming. What would Mateo think of her gown? Or her lips? An opus of fragrant florals tickled her nose. Would he even notice her? After the careful selection of her gown and all the work her attendants had done, he had better. Unless she had missed her mark, he would not be able to resist her.

Rounding the staircase's landing, she nearly collided with Eiric. The bandage across his nose was gone, more than likely due to the palace healer providing him with salve from the Green Falls. His eyes darted to her neckline like a ravenous hawk before settling on her face.

"Avalynn. Princess." He cleared his throat and bowed. "You are most lovely tonight. It would be my honor to escort you into the ballroom. "

Oh, this was good. Courtiers always desired what they could not have. She smiled, knowing Mateo would surely be no different. "That would be lovely, Eiric." She took his outstretched hand, and together they made their entry into the ballroom.

The scene unfolded in opulence—a symphony of sights and sounds of the most royal and privileged dignitaries in all of Faevenly. Ornate vases of gold and silver showcased the garden's roses, gardenias, and lilies. Gilded arches and towering columns adorned with intricately carved flowers and leaves lined each side of the space. Circular tables with the finest white linens, perfectly polished silverware, gold-edged plates, and dazzling centerpieces dotted the outer edges of the dance floor. Sparkling crystal chandeliers lit by purple-hued candles and floating orbs dotted the celestial heights. They cast a warm glow on the polished marble floor.

The string quartet played, accompanying the festive chatter that filled the air. Magnificent ball gowns rustled, and the dancers' rhythmic tapping became lost in the evening's splendor.

Eiric wasted no time. "I would be honored to have your first dance, my princess."

Walking in with Eiric? Sure. No problem. But giving him the first dance? No way. Scrambling for a reply, she spotted Lily on the room's other side. Nearby stood Mateo, in the corner by himself, wearing black pants, a white shirt, and a long black coat. Hands in his pockets, he turned away from the festivities and stared through the streak-free windows along the back wall. This was her opportunity, and she pounced.

"Oh…" She waved at Lily while she glanced at Eiric. "I se e my little sister and must speak with her. Perhaps another time."

His shoulders slumped, and then he bowed. "Of course. I will look for you later, then."

She left Eiric while his last words lingered, working her way through the buzzing crowd. Her true target, Mateo, must have sensed her approach. His neck slowly swiveled. He turned and faced her. A subtle catch in her breath betrayed the impact of being so close to him.

"Hello, Mateo," she said, breathless. His lip was stitched, and he wore a bandage near his eye, yet he was still striking. Maybe even more so.

"Princess." He nodded and kept his steely eyes on hers, not bothered by her strategically selected gown. "What insults would you choose for me this evening?"

She had several in mind, none of which advanced her goal—teaming up with him. She settled for a demure smile. "No insults. Quite the opposite." She straightened her shoulders and showed off her gown's seductive cut. Why was he not daring even a peek? "I came to offer my apologies." She paused for a reaction. He gave none. "And, my first dance."

Never in a thousand lifetimes would she have dreamed of asking a Sublander to dance. Looks be damned, he was not worthy. Worse, he was taking too long to reply. Heat surged through her cheeks at his silent refusal. "Forget it." Pompous little lowborn.

She spun on her heels. But then he grabbed her arm. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, igniting a fire that blazed within her. A fire she desperately tried to ignore whenever he was near. She turned to face him, and their eyes locked. For a heartbeat, the world around them ceased to exist. It was just her and him and their magnetic pull. She had never felt this way around another.

He stepped back, releasing her arm, but the link lingered like an invisible thread between them. "I would like that…very much…" He swallowed hard in the electrified silence and bowed his head, as if forcing himself to contain the intensity of the moment. "But…I do not know how to dance and would not want to embarrass you."

Now that was unexpected. A touch of sympathy for the Sublander gathered inside of her. Had she been reading him all wrong? She closed the gap between them. "I can show you." With a finger, she lifted his chin. "It is easy. I will help you."

The music switched from an upbeat tune to a soft ballad.

She held out her royal hand. He looked down, as if considering his next move, and then took her hand with a surprisingly gentle touch. A flutter of wings swirled in her stomach, her heart racing as she led him to the middle area with the other dancers.

"Your left hand holds my right, like this." She held her right arm up and hand open, and he wrapped his fingers around hers. With that position secured, she went on. "Your right hand will stay on my back, guiding me through the dance while my left one rests on your shoulder." They stayed still in the dancing position, eyes locked, desire building, before moving in the same circular pattern as the other guests.

His steps were fluid, his movements graceful like he had danced at royal functions his entire lowborn life. She quirked a brow. "Are you sure this is your first time?"

He scanned the crowd and then returned his attention to her. " I am sure."

"You are a natural, then." Their eyes remained fixed, his with an unsettling intensity. Did he have another expression? Not that she minded that one too much. It belonged to her, and she wanted it.

He cleared his throat. "This is most decidedly not natural for me."

"This is not entirely natural for me either." She gazed into those steely gray eyes. Like a strong magnet, they would never lose their pull. She should look away and prevent him from becoming anything more than a Sublander and last place finisher. But right then, she did not want to. Her mind, body, and spirit said the same thing. Keep looking. Never turn away.

"You dance as if it is natural for you."

She forced her attention back to their steps. "I have been to many of these things, but I much prefer my feet in the grass, face in the sun, and being outdoors in the forest hunting, practicing archery…"

"Or riding your Enbarr?"

She smiled. "Or that." He remembered. His thought process matched hers. They were of one mind for the moment.

The Enbarr stopped them from ending one another. It forced them to lower their weapons. What would the creature think if it knew they were dancing together? Something told her it would surely be pleased. But the Enbarr had no idea who Mateo was and what Avalynn must do—a task she could neither ignore nor forget.

The music continued, and she needed her deal done before the song ended and another began. There was no better time than the present. "Tomorrow will be my first time competing in the hunt."

His brow twitched slightly, as if concerned by her sudden change of conversation. "Mine as well." He moistened his lips. "But you already know that."

She angled her head upward and stared at his barely open mouth and slightly parted, wet lips. Did he notice her gloss? Did he smell the sweet nectar and desire a taste? A charged pause hung in the air between them; an unspoken invitation lingered. She needed to focus on her mission. Their kiss could never exist. She cleared her throat. Her plan was all that mattered. "I wonder, Mateo, if we should somehow work together."

His brows bunched in the middle. He paused his steps before falling back into a steady rhythm. "Why would we do that?"

Why? Sun, Moon, and Stars. She actually needed a reason? She stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Because the other provinces are…how shall I say it…not worthy."

"How so?"

"It is nothing that needs explaining." They were unworthy compared to her. Her statement was true. But she could not tell him that.

His hand remained on her waist. When he spun her, he touched her all the way around, sending tingles everywhere. When they faced each other again, he agreed to her proposition. "Fine. How do you propose we work together?"

"Good question." His defenses had dropped. He fell for it. "I am not sure. But I propose we stay together and look for ways to help one another."

He stepped closer, leaned in, and whispered, "If working together means I win, then that is acceptable."

Of course, the Sublander would say that. "We shall see." She needed to play along.

Words fell away as the dance took them. The rhythm ebbed and flowed between them, each movement as intimate and perfect as the rise and fall of waves. No one else found space in her mind. It belonged to Mateo. He flooded her senses like a gentle ocean breeze. Those intense eyes, that long, sleek hair, his lean and muscular frame. The perfect blend of spice and vanilla and sandalwood that made her head spin. Best of all, his firm yet gentle touch. She would let him touch her all over if she could.

The ballroom faded as she drifted closer to Mateo. The timeless gap between them disappeared. His eyes searched her face before finally drifting to her chest, roaming her curves with longing and desire. Should she move back? Or stay in this endlessly pleasing pose forever, letting him have her with his eyes?

The enduring ballad ended. Another song began, but they remained as they were, eyes locked. A symphony of emotions swirled within her—desire, anticipation, and vulnerability. Feelings she had never experienced before, and most certainly did not expect. Especially from a Sublander.

She ignored the hand that tapped her shoulder. The tapping continued, softer at first and then harder. The words finally sunk in. "Princess, may I have the next dance?"

She turned to see Eiric's eyes boring a hole through Mateo. Eiric had no claim over her, though he sure acted like he did. Before she could decline his request, Mateo dropped her hand. He released her waist. "Thank you for the dance." His head tipped, and then he bowed. "It was my privilege to learn from a princess."